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Minors and consent in gender care

The Dutch Medical Treatment Agreement Act (WGBO) governs consent to medical treatment.

Legal framework in the Netherlands

The Dutch Medical Treatment Agreement Act (WGBO) governs consent to medical treatment. Up to age 12 parents decide; from 12 to 16 the consent of both parents and child is required; from 16 the minor decides independently about their own treatment.

Specific to transgender care

For puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, additional conditions apply at the Dutch gender clinics: an extensive diagnostic trajectory, a multidisciplinary decision and — for minors — the consent of both parents.

International developments

In the United Kingdom the Bell v Tavistock case (2020) led to stricter conditions. In the Netherlands, age limits and the role of parental consent were discussed in the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives) in 2024.